Changed from "room only"..to "package"..slight problem?

[auntie]

On Saturday, I changed our room only reservation to a package that includes the dining and park passes. I had received a discount ..had a pin code on a postcard mailer for the initial discounted rate on the room. We are staying at the WL in May. Actually, I have two reservations, as my older son is coming and figure one of the younger kids will probably stay in with him.
I was told when I made the original room only reservation back in Feb., that if I choose to make it a package, to call back, it wouldn't be a problem. After finding that I was able to secure ADR's where we wanted for each day(which has been an issue for us in the past), I decided to go ahead and change to include the dining and passes.
Initially the reservationist told me I couldn't do this, that they were all booked using the current public codes that are out. I explained again it was made with a pincode mailer..and that I was told when I made the reservation it would be able to be done. Asked him to check with supervisor. He returned, said he is working with "guest services"..and they are converting the reservation to a package! Took a while..he wasn't doing this himself, but waiting on "guest services" to do it. Kept checking with them..and asking me about dining? He asked why I didn't have a Le Cellier reservation, I explain I wasn't able to secure one..and when I was they wouldn't guarantee we'd be seated together. He then said.."How would you like to go for lunch..on the
23rd of May?"...Couldn't believe it! He explained that he did dining also, and was looking as we spoke for a day available for us. What great luck! I was thrilled. At this point he also returned from speaking with guest services..the package price was: and he quoted me a price that was about $200 or so more than I thought it should have been. I asked why that would be..but he wasn't able to give much info..as he said he didn't have a breakdown. I was just so thrilled that I was able to covert..and that my son's room only was also coverted to a package..I figured that maybe I had added wrong when I was doing my figuring. This kept bugging me..because my son's room only package came to within pennies of what I thought it should be.
I wait for an e-mail confirmation. There was NONE. Now, by Monday I was getting nervous, as this sounded to me as if he was new, and had someone else doing these changes for me. I went to the website, and check our reservation number. I immediately saw why the package was some $200.00 more than it should have been. We are placed in a room with BUNK beds...which frankly..having two rooms already, we don't need! There is an extra charge for a room with bunks at the WL. I called to see if I could have that changed..and they are telling me that there are no available rooms without bunks left. First they told me that's what I booked, and told them..Noooo..the original reservation was for two queen beds in each room..I was very specific about it..and assumed when they changed to a package, that the room type was the same. The view was the same..but not the room type. This time around, I also had a reservationist not really familiar with the layout or the room types at the WL..so this took some explaining. She also said she was checking with guest services, but said there was nothing they could do. I should call back and see if there are any cancellations..where they could make the switch.
So after this very long story....has anyone else had this happen..and what do you think the chances are that I will be able to secure this change..we are scheduled to leave May 19. I should add that my "kids" are not little ones. Theya re 15(6'2")...and my daughter is 19...so I'm thinking these bunks are not gonna work for the big guy. My only other thinking was asking upon arrival at the WL if they have rooms with two queens available. I could also switch rooms with my older son..(of course he's booked in the room with two queens..go figure!)..and give him the bunk room. I figure that's the worst case scenario. All in all, not a terrible problem..but I wouldn't mind having back my $200.00 either. I think they saw the ages of the kids and figured we would want bunks..not realizing that we had TWO reservations that were linked. They made the change on the one that had mine and my husbands name..along with my two younger kids first. Thoughts anyone? ...Thanks for reading and listening guys

 

[nbodyhome]

Do you have your original confirmation that you can fax them? If so, I'd call back and say you have a copy of it (I would think it should be still in their system too, but maybe not at this point).

Sorry, what a pain!

 

[scanmom]

I amy be wrong, but I think you have 3 "kids" with you? A 15, 19, and your older son? If that is the case, I would just put the older son in the room with the bunks, and the rest of you take the other... or I would put all the "kids in the room with 2Q beds, let the brothers share a bed, then I would have a private room with DH!!!! Disney doesn't care who is in which room. In the past we have had 2 rooms, and everyone slept in a different bed each night. Of course, this is if you cannot get Disney to get both rooms with 2Q beds. That would save you $200.00, and if possible, that would be best. Have a great trip, and enjoy the dining plan, it's super!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Basically -- the only people who can change that reservation - pending room availability - are those guys who did the Guest Services trick for you in the first place.

So when you call CRO - no matter who you speak to - they're going to need to talk to Guest Services.

Knox

 

[auntie]

I amy be wrong, but I think you have 3 "kids" with you? A 15, 19, and your older son? If that is the case, I would just put the older son in the room with the bunks, and the rest of you take the other... or I would put all the "kids in the room with 2Q beds, let the brothers share a bed, then I would have a private room with DH!!!! Disney doesn't care who is in which room. In the past we have had 2 rooms, and everyone slept in a different bed each night. Of course, this is if you cannot get Disney to get both rooms with 2Q beds. That would save you $200.00, and if possible, that would be best. Have a great trip, and enjoy the dining plan, it's super!

Yes this is true...we have three..one is older 27..and he has his own room and reservation. I kept them as two seperate reservations..with the younger two on ours, as my older son was unsure of vacation schedules at the time the reservation was made back in Feb. (He is a police officer)...when it worked out that he was definely coming..I just kept it the way it was. We figured on one of the younger kids being in with him(I'm spliting the cost of the second room with him). I could keep the bunk room..and give it to him..only I'm not entirely sure it would work for my 16 year old who is 6'2".....but worst case scenario..I guess we'll find out. Tha'ts why I figured with two rooms of queen beds..it wouldn't be an issue, and we'd have more than enough beds for sleeping ..without having to pay an extra couple of hundred for bunks that my son might not fit comfortbly in anyway. The two boys are both adult sized..and don't want to share a queen bed..can't blame them. It's a guy thing! Especially paying all that money..certainly not for a week.

I wish I had picked up on in right away, when he came back with the increase in rate. I knew something was up with that..because the second room reservation came back within pennies of what I had figured it to be. The second reservationist I spoke with on Monday, said the one who made the change should have gone over specifics of the change..which would have included not only the view..but the bedding arrangements.

Also..as a side note..we want a Villa Pool view..which is same rate as Courtyard view. I'm not sure if the Villa Pool views even have bunks. I know the Courtyard view does. Funny thing was they did have both rooms available as two queen beds for a woods view...but when I initially made the reservation the discount was only being applied to the Courtyard rate. Makes you wonder..things change all the time, depending on who you get on the phone.

 

[auntie]

Basically -- the only people who can change that reservation - pending room availability - are those guys who did the Guest Services trick for you in the first place.

So when you call CRO - no matter who you speak to - they're going to need to talk to Guest Services.

Knox

So...just calling and checking availability..as they suggested is not going to work?...I'd need to call ask to speak to someone in guest services?

At least one good thing came out of the switch I was able to secure a reservation for Le cellier...and imagine..it only cost me $200 more !...So..gotta wonder if my good fortune was good fortune after all?...
My husband said we should think on it a couple of days and see if it's worth changing..yet again. I don't want to chance another mix up of another type.
I am wondering if this bunk room will actually have a view of the Villa Courtyard and pool area as requested. We had that view before..but it was two rooms..queens in each room. I'm sort of leary..as the reservationist was not that familiar with the WL. I knew more about it that she did.

 

[sarah4770]

I say call back during the week. I have always had a problem on the weekends, but I have called on Monday mornings, and gotten everything resolved. I wont even call on the weekend anymore.

 

[auntie]

Well I think you are right about the weekends..I think they are probably pretty busy and totally overwhelmed. The gentlemen who handled the change..had me on the line for near 40 minutes..and basically just waiting for guest services to make the change. When I questioned him about the price being somwhat higher than I had calculated adding on the dining and parks..he just laughed it off and said.."oh everyone is suprised by the grand total"...I was also happy that while waiting he secured a reservation a Le Cellier..that I didn't give it too much thought and of course I had been on the phone long distance for over 40 minutes already. But it kept bugging me and when I didn't receive the e-mail confirmation by Monday..I went on line and put my reservation number in and I saw instantly why the additional $200.
I did call Monday morning..and honestly this woman..while very nice..was not that familiar with the resort or the views. She also was in touch with guest services who said nothing with the two queens was available. I wouldn't even mind so much if this was something that I had booked to begin with, and now decided I didn't want it. Then I'd say..what can you do, but it's like they gave me a higher rate for accomodations I don't need..and maybe someone else does. She did say they have alot of requests for the bunk rooms. I guess looking at the kids on the reservation they figured that's what I wanted. I think I will mull it over a few more days..and call again if we want to change it.
They were all very nice..but not as informed as the Disney reservationists I've dealt with in the past.

 

[clkelley]

Even if you don't straighten out the bunkbed issue, something you might want to do is move your 19yo daughter over to your older son's reservation. That way you won't be charged an extra adult fee for her.

 

[auntie]

I did have it as two seperate reservations because I didn't want it to be an issue if for any reason, my son couldn't make it..I'd just cancel his room. Now that we've added the dining and park passes..I wanted to keep our dining credits on our room key...and his dining credits on his own room key, as he is paying for his own dining and passes...and I'm spliting the room part of it with him, as one of the kids will probably be in with him.
I did wonder if when we checked in..if they would pool them altogether, or if it would be simplier to keep them seperate. The reservation is in my name for the one room...and my older son's name for his room.

I've never done the dining plan...can you hand them two dining cards if we eat together..so that they can remove 4 meals from ours..and 1 from his?

 

[castleri]

I did have it as two seperate reservations because I didn't want it to be an issue if for any reason, my son couldn't make it..I'd just cancel his room. Now that we've added the dining and park passes..I wanted to keep our dining credits on our room key...and his dining credits on his own room key, as he is paying for his own dining and passes...and I'm spliting the room part of it with him, as one of the kids will probably be in with him.
I did wonder if when we checked in..if they would pool them altogether, or if it would be simplier to keep them seperate. The reservation is in my name for the one room...and my older son's name for his room.

I've never done the dining plan...can you hand them two dining cards if we eat together..so that they can remove 4 meals from ours..and 1 from his?

Yes you can do that - we did it last year when we had 3 on one reservation and 4 adults and a child on the other. We just made sure to tell the server before we ordered that we planned to do this so he ran two bills. We also had the DDE plan and told the server at the beginning as they have to run that bill separately. The idea of moving your daughter to the other reservation will save you some money as a PP said. I don't know what the additional charge is for WL but at the moderates it is $15 a night for each extra adult. I think it may be $20-25 for a deluxe. Of course you may want to check and make sure they did in fact charge you for the extra adult to begin with before you consider it.

I think the bunks are the regular size people have in their homes. Our children were younger when we had them so there was no issue about them fitting. Good luck - I would want my $200 back also if I could do it.

 

[auntie]

No extra adult charge. Yes..I was bad ..I sort of didn't mention her actual age. Since when I called they had her as 17..and I sort of went ..'Okay..yes". Our last trip..we had others on the reservation who aren't coming this time, and that may have been the discrepancy..I've had them ask about someone who was my older son's girlfriend at the time..and cancelled at the last minute..never even came on the trip..but they had her name. In any case..she is down as 17..so no extra adult charge. She also doesn't look a day over 17(which she hates..but I tell her one day she'll be happy about it!). If there was an extra adult charge..I just would have put her on the reservation with my son's room..so as to avoid it. I was keeping reservations seperate as my older son wasn't sure which weeks he'd have available. When the pin code mailer came, and I secured the rooms seperately thinking..worst case scenario if he couldn't come I would cancel his, and ours would remain the same.

I am wondering if I'm not able to change it back to the original queen beds if there is actually going to be a Villa Pool view available with bunks?...As I know the Courtyard View of the main themed pool has bunk rooms..however we really ddin't want this view. Our last stay we had a view of the Villa Pool..which was lovely..and peaceful..not as crazy as Courtyard view, and felt more private. Of course we had two rooms with queen beds then.

 

[castleri]

When we had the bunk bed room we were facing the canal and could see the monorail through the trees - there was also some kind of little service building or something off to the left if you looked that way. It seems they are spread all over the lodge. Good luck

 

[auntie]

The second reservationist I called on Monday to address the problem with indicated that they did have woods view rooms available to change it to. We've always gone with the Villa View (formerly a woods view before the WL Villas were built)...and when we received the pincode mailer..all I was able to secure with it was a Courtyard view rate..which would also be a Villa Pool view rate, which we were upgraded to on our last trip, and loved. I'm not sure that they are going to have a bunk room with a Villa Pool view...and neither did the reservationist..as she knew little about the Lodge. I think I'm going to try again first thing in the morning at 7 am to see if they have what we originally booked available. I'd feel better if I knew for sure that they even offered a bunk room with a view of the Villa Pool. Anybody know...

 

[auntie]

Just wanted to Post an update on a thread regarding a reservation we had for May 19th at the WL. I had originally booked a room only..with a pincode mailer we received. About 3 weeks ago we decided to change it to include dining and park passes. I was told when I made the original reservation this was something I'd be able to do at a later date. However, when I called back to do just that..it got to be a bit tricky. The reservationist first told me it couldn't be done..and when I explained that I had been told it could be..he checked with guest services. They had me on the line for about a half hour..but they managed to do it. I actually had two rooms booked, as our older son is also traveling with us. I noticed that the one room came back within pennies of what I thought it should be, but the the other room was about 200.00 more than I anticipated. I was so thrilled that they were fnally able to do it..I didn't make too much of a fuss. Although I did question it. Came to find out the following day, when I pulled up the reservation on line that they changed our room accomodations to include bunk beds. Now, I don't have a need for bunks..as we already have two rooms, and also the additional charge for the bunks..was as I suspected, the additional $200.00. I did call to see if they could change it..and was told that there was nothing available. I could try back and see. Well, I did this another time ....and I could tell that the reservationist wasn't following my problem. I hung up...and hit re-dail. I had a new reservationist. Explained the situation..that I don't need the bunks..or the additional charge. At first she too was reluctant to do much. However, then she said she wanted to see if she could find the original room only reservation. She was pretty sure, that it was I who probably made the error..that I had bunks booked all along and wasn't aware of it. Sure enough..she did find it. No...I didn't have bunks booked. Put me on hold..for a while..spoke with guest services, and they rectified the error and are refunding me the $200.00 charge!
I just wanted to post some good news. It does pay to keep trying. If one reservationist can't help you..apparently another can. I am just grateful she was able to find the original reservation and was able to contact guest services who made the change. You hear more and more about the Disney magic not being what it used to be..but at least this castmember went that extra mile..and I certainly appreciate it! Now we are getting ready to go..have our trip scheduled for May 19th! Can't wait and looking forward to it.